* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

An attacking fullback, his pace and ability to get up and down the flanks created problems for the opposition.[1] He spent most of his professional career with Porto and Chelsea, winning 13 honours overall including the UEFA Champions League with both clubs: 2004 with the former and 2012 with the latter.

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Born in Mbandaka, Zaire to a Portuguese father and a Congolese mother, Bosingwa moved with his parents at a very young age to Seia in the Portuguese hinterland, in the Guarda District. He was the youngest of the couple's ten children.[2]

Fully established as a right-back and Porto's first-choice since 2004–05, after the departures of Paulo Ferreira and veteran Carlos Secretário, Bosingwa was a vital element in the team's conquest of another three league titles in four years. The campaign ended on a sour note as, in May, he was at the wheel of his jeep when excess speed and wet road conditions led to a serious accident, with the vehicle skidding off the motorway and rolling down an embankment before bursting into flames. Four other footballers travelled alongside him, including Boavista player Nélson.[6] All escaped alive, but one of them, Sandro Luís (player of modest Grupo Desportivo os Minhocas), had to have his left foot amputated as a result of the accident, which took place in Valongo; Bosingwa was subsequently suspended by the club.

On 11 May 2008, Porto announced that Bosingwa had come to verbal agreements with Chelsea for €20.6 million (£16.3 million),[7][8] with 20% of the transfer fee going to a third party called International Football – Gestão e Assessoria de Carreiras. He put pen to paper on a three-year deal[9] and joined the London club after Euro 2008, along with Portugal national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and fellow international Deco; on 16 July he was officially presented with the number 16, but switched to No. 17 after exchanging with Scott Sinclair.

On 1 February 2009, Bosingwa was involved in an incident on the field where he stamped Liverpool player Yossi Benayoun directly in the back, without making any attempt to play the ball. Although refereeMike Riley did not see it, assistant Mo Matadar would later claim to have seen the incident, signalling a foul at the time but subsequently awarding Chelsea a throw-in; in the days following the match, the Football Association claimed that FIFA regulations prevented them from imposing disciplinary sanctions, as no booking or sending off was issued.[14][15]

Bosingwa was banned for three European matches as a result of comments he made about the refereeing of the Champions League semi-finals second leg clash against FC Barcelona (6 May 2009, 1–1 draw in England) on Portuguese television. He stated "I don't know whether he's a referee or a thief", but later apologised for his choice of words.[16] The ban was later reduced to two games on appeal.[17]

On 16 October 2010, exactly one year after his injury, Bosingwa returned to action against the same opponent, Aston Villa playing the last 15 minutes in a 0–0 away draw at Villa Park after replacing compatriot Ferreira in the second half[21]– both were relegated to the bench by Branislav Ivanović.

In the 2011–12 season, following the appointment of countryman André Villas-Boas as manager, Bosingwa returned to the starting lineup.[22] On 27 August 2011, he scored his first goal in three years after a 25-yard strike against Norwich City in a 3–1 home win.[23]

On 24 April 2012, Bosingwa played a vital role in the match against Barcelona for the Champions League semi-finals: he replaced injured Gary Cahill after only 12 minutes, and helped his side record a 2–2 draw at the Camp Nou and a 3–2 aggregate win; for most of the match he had to play as centre-back, as John Terry was also sent off before half-time.[26]

In his natural position, Bosingwa played the full 120 minutes in the Champions League final against FC Bayern Munich, as Chelsea won 4–3 on penalties and became the first club from London to win the tournament.[27] With the back four being commended for their ability to keep the strong opposing forward line at bay, he himself received plaudits for his efforts against wingerFranck Ribéry;[28] Shortly after, however, along with teammates Drogba and Salomon Kalou, he was told he could leave once his contract expired the following month.[29]

On 17 August 2012, Bosingwa signed a three-year deal with Queens Park Rangers.[30] He scored his first goal for his new club on the 28th, netting against Walsall in a 3–0 home win in the season's Football League Cup.[31]

In December 2012, Bosingwa was fined two weeks' wages for refusing to sit on the bench for a league game against Fulham.[32] When QPR sealed their relegation in April 2013 after a 0–0 draw at Reading, he was seen on TV cameras to be smiling as he left the pitch, which angered teammate Joey Barton and fans alike;[33][34] three months later, he left the club by mutual consent.[35]

On 29 July 2013, Bosingwa signed a three-year contract with Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig,[36] for a €2.1 million salary in the first two seasons and to €1.6 million in the last.[37] He left in early November 2015 claiming unpaid wages[38] but, in the following transfer window, returned to the club and agreed to a half-year deal for €0.5 million plus €1,000 per match.[39][40]